4 Reasons Travel Agents Can Help You More Than You Realize

It’s 2017. Anyone can book their own flights and hotels independently. So why use a travel agent?

If you had an hour to spare, I could give you lots of reasons, but here’s the short answer: working with the right travel agent is like having a knowledgeable friend in the business—someone who knows the best places, the best ways to get there and how to avoid hassles along the way. Your friend will handle all the details, definitely save you time and possibly save you money, and be ready to help with any complications.

And since you’re friends, they’ll do all this as a favour—for no charge.

1. We’ll Save You Time (And Money)

Unless you really like spending hours on your laptop or mobile device, one of the first ways the staff of a specialty travel agency such as Caradonna Adventures can help is by saving you time.

Despite the endless advertising claims from online travel sites, all that searching won’t get you a better price than we can find. In some cases, we may even find a cheaper fare, or know about some special package pricing. At the very least, you won’t pay any more for our help.

And it’s not just about price. It’s about making the right choice. Every hotel and tour operation puts on their best game face online, and even the most reputable review sites will post contradictory information at times. It can be hard to sift through the marketing hype and personal opinions to find the best choice for your needs.

Again, that’s where we can help. The agents at Caradonna Adventures travel to many of the properties we represent, and take part in the active adventures we list. Each year, we send up to hundreds of customers to these same properties, and get candid and accurate feedback on their experiences. We know the real story, and can help you narrow the search to create the perfect vacation based on your individual needs and preferences.

2. We Know The Tricks of the Travel Trade

Because we book trips all over the world all day long, we know things the average traveler might miss. Not every airline flies everywhere every day. Sometimes, something as simple as knowing to shift a ticket from a Saturday to a Sunday can save hundreds of dollars, or cut hours off layover and transit time.

Then there are stories of self-booked travellers who added needless hours to their journey with poor routing, or who unknowingly neglected to book an in-country transfer and were stuck at the wrong end of the country for a day or more.

3. We’re Well Connected

We also have close relationships with airlines, hotels and tour operators. Because we send them a steady stream of business, we can sometimes lock in great rates, get unadvertised package deals, find a room or space on a live-aboard dive boat or with a tour group that the Internet shows as sold out, and secure special perks for our customers.

If there is a glitch or complication, we are in a better position to solve it. Despite all the claims websites and properties make for their customer service, the truth is that we usually have more clout with vendors than solo travellers do, because we represent a much larger volume of business. This gives us an inside advantage when it comes to resolving glitches such as cancellations, refunds and schedule changes.

The beautiful island of Dominica. (Outpost)

4. We Go the Extra Mile

Here’s something you won’t get when you book through an online website—a voice at the other end of the phone who is familiar with the details of both the destination and your personal travel plans. Having a contact to reach out to is a great way to get additional insights on your trip. And should something go a bit sideways, we’ll do everything possible to go the extra mile and make it right.

Here’s a recent example of Caradonna making things right: we had a group traveling to Dominica, with a stop in Antigua. Their inter-island flight was cancelled, and it looked like they would miss a few days of their trip, stuck on the wrong island. It was a Friday night, but our agents started working the phones and ended up chartering an airplane that got them to their resort in time for the next day’s boat trip.

Another Caradonna agent went even further when the group she was travelling with got stuck at an airport in Honduras, with no gate agent in sight to resolve the issue. She hopped behind the counter, worked the computers herself and got everyone home.

Give Us a Call

For all the reasons described and more, it just makes sense to work with a representative such as one of Caradonna’s experienced agents when you are planning your next adventure vacation. We’ll help you find the destination and resort that’s best for you, handle the logistics of getting there, find the best prices and most convenient schedules, and be there for you in case of glitches.

So give us a call and let’s talk travel. And because we’re friends, it won’t cost a thing.

About The Author

Pierce Hoover is a field editor and blogger for Caradonna Adventures. The founder of Sport Diver magazine, he has devoted more than 30 years to global dive travel, shark research and underwater cave exploration. Cardonna Adventures has more than 30 years' experience providing unique scuba diving, adventure and wellness vacation packages for active travelers looking for world-class adventures across the globe.